16 Comments
User's avatar
Christine Staricka, IBCLC's avatar

A story that must have swept right over my head without me picking up on it when it was happening - thanks for reporting!

Expand full comment
Sonny Rane's avatar

Thank you for reading, Christine!

Expand full comment
paul childs's avatar

This is something I still think about from time to time. The measure of what we lost cannot be calculated, it is all beyond sad.

Expand full comment
Sonny Rane's avatar

It's enough to drive you crazy if you dwell too long.

Expand full comment
Sheila (of Ephemera)'s avatar

Awesome reportage, Sonny. I don’t remember hearing about this at all when it happened. What an incalculable (literally) loss.

Expand full comment
Sonny Rane's avatar

Thank you, Sheila! The loss is massive. Just the thought of all those masters going up in smoke is heartbreaking.

Expand full comment
Foosball's avatar

Dammmmm , sadly Without trying to blame anyone specifically as that is what lawyers are for I will rightly or wrongly put the blame on technology which we are all guilty of falling victim to one way or another in todays electronic world as There are biblical scrolls that date back 3,000 or 4,000 years old that have survived the test of time for the simple fact that they are physical & original masterpieces that still can be read today.

I guess my point is that we all just take things for granted because they’re in a digital format and sadly this fantastic article is proof of that.

Godspeed😇

Expand full comment
AJDeiboldt-The High Notes's avatar

I remember when this happened and just shaking my head as I read the article. It's funny how much effort these companies put into owning the masters and then they take little effort protecting them. Glad you included that Prince quote because that was one of the first things that came to mind wue I started reading your piece.

Expand full comment
Sonny Rane's avatar

The condition many masters are kept in is truly awful. Basically it's due to mounting storage fees, so the bean counters in charge look to cut costs. Shameful, but not surprising, given society's tendency to rank profits above art.

Expand full comment
Ellen from Endwell's avatar

Excellent article. Thanks for your thorough coverage.

Expand full comment
Sonny Rane's avatar

Thank you very much, Ellen.

Expand full comment
Daniel Helkenn's avatar

Great reporting Sonny. No one ever thinks about securing anything…too expensive. LOL

Expand full comment
Sonny Rane's avatar

Thanks, Daniel. And yup, proper storage is too expensive for the suits in charge. Those greedy losers wouldn’t know art if it bit them in the ass.

Expand full comment
Kat Rigel's avatar

This was a tough read simply because it brings back the knowledge of a loss that would have been easily preventable if a little forethought had been applied. That forethought should have started with the fact that the condition of the storage facility in and of itself was lacking even basic protection for what was being stored there. Your writing and research is always impeccable, Mr. Rane.

Expand full comment
Sonny Rane's avatar

Thank you, Kat. And you’re right: the disaster could’ve been easily avoided. Unfortunately, the idiots in charge care only about profits. They wouldn’t know a master from a mistress.

Expand full comment
Amy Beeman's avatar

What a loss. Damn. I didn’t know this story.

Expand full comment